GB2296706A

GB2296706A - Polygonal box

Info

Publication number: GB2296706A
Application number: GB9425437A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Gardner
Original assignee: M Petrushkin Ltd
Current assignee: M Petrushkin Ltd
Priority date: 1994-12-16
Filing date: 1994-12-16
Publication date: 1996-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2014-12-16
Also published as: GB9425437D0; GB2296706B

Abstract

A box 1 is formed from one piece of material and comprises a main body 26 - 33 and an integral top 3 - 15. The box 1 has a substantially polygonal cross-section with the top 3 - 15 having a pyramidal shape. The box is easily opened and closed without losing its original distinctive shape. <IMAGE>

Description

Polygonal Box This invention relates to boxes, in particular to boxes intended to hold gifts such as stationery.

It is well known to sell products which are intended to be gifts in aesthetically pleasing boxes. The boxes are designed to enhance the appeal of the product rather than merely contain it. A box with a more distinctive style is likely to be more commercially successful than a plain box, especially at times such as Christmas.

When the product is an article such as stationery which will not be used up all at once it is preferable to have a box which can be re-closed. If the box is particularly distinctively shaped it can be difficult to re-close and retain the original shape. It is thus an aim of this invention to provide a distinctive box which can be easily opened and closed without losing its original shape and appeal.

According to the present invention there is provided a box comprising a main body having a substantially polygonal cross-sectional shape and an integral top having a substantially pyramidal shape, the top providing a recloseable opening and the box being formed from a onepiece blank of material.

The invention also provides a one piece blank of material for constructing the box.

In a preferred embodiment the box has an octagonal cross-section. The top is formed from eight flaps hingedly connected by fold lines to the eight panels of the main body. These flaps fold inwards about the fold lines to provide the pyramidal shape.

The blank is formed with a plurality of tabs and flaps which allows a stable box to be constructed with only one sealed edge. This has the advantage that the original shape of the box is not lost when it has been opened. No seals have to be broken and no tabs or flaps are destroyed on opening the box. Therefore the box can be re-closed in its original shape.

If the contents of the box are to be displayed a window can be provided by cutting a hole in the blank before the box is constructed. This may be replaced by a sheet of transparent material. Alternatively, the whole blank may be made from a transparent material.

To assist a clear understanding of the invention a more detailed description of a preferred embodiment is given below with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the blank from which the box is constructed; Figure 2 is a plan view; and Figure 3 is a side view.

The main body of the box 1 has an octagonal crosssection. At the upper end of each of the eight panels forming the walls there is a flap hingedly connected by a fold line both to the side panel and both adjacent flaps.

Each alternate flap has further fold lines which allow it to fold in on itself. All eight flaps fold inwardly to form a flat topped pyramid. The box is designed to be opened at the top but the bottom is also openable should this be required.

The box 1 is constructed from a one piece blank of thin card or similar material. When opened out the side walls of the box form a rectangle. Folding lines divide this rectangle into eight equal rectangular panels 26 - 33. In this particular embodiment of the invention a substantially rectangular hole has been cut out of the panels forming the walls, extending across three panels 28 -30. This is covered by a sheet of transparent material to form a window 21 through which the contents of the box may be viewed.

A narrow tab 35 of the same length as rectangular panels 26 - 33 is formed integrally with one of the panels 26 at the outer edge of the rectangular blank. When the box is constructed the tab 35 overlaps with a strip of adhesive 36 located on the outer side of the panel 33 at the opposing outer edge of the blank. Only one strip of adhesive 36 is required. This holds the main body of the box 1 together.

The base of the box is an octagon and is formed by a flap 25 hingedly connected to the lower end of one of the panels 26 - 33 by a fold line. Alternate sides of the base 25 are provided with substantially rectangular tabs 17 - 20 joined by fold lines. The length of each tab corresponds to the length of one side of the octagon. The tabs are designed to stand perpendicular to the base 25. One side of the base is integrally formed with the lower end of one of the panels 29 forming the walls. Flaps 22, 24 and 23 are located at the lower ends of rectangular panels 27, 31 and 33 respectively, and are connected thereto through fold lines. These flaps lie flat against the base 25 when the box is constructed. The flaps 22, 23 and 24 slot between the upstanding walls of the tabs 17 - 20.

The flaps forming the pyramidal top of the box are hingedly connected by a fold line at the upper end of the panels, each panel 26 - 33 having a corresponding flap 4 11. Alternate flaps 5, 7, 9 and 11, located at the end of rectangular panels 32, 26, 28 and 30 respectively, are provided with further fold lines which divide each member into three triangular areas. These further fold lines extend from the corners of the side of the flap adjacent the panel to the centre of the free outer side of the flap. The apex of the central triangle is thus located at the centre of the outer side of the flap. A strip of adhesive, being a continuation of strip 36, is provided on one of the flaps 6 at the outer side of the box blank.When the box is constructed this strip overlaps with a narrow tab 34, hingedly connected by another fold line to the side of the flap 7 at the other outer side of the box blank. When the top of the box is closed the alternate flaps 5, 7, 9 and 11 with the additional fold lines fold about the apex of the central triangle such that the outer corners are juxtaposed.

They thus form the inner, lower walls of the pyramid effect top. The remaining four flaps 4, 6, 8, 10 which do not have the additional fold lines remain planar and fold inwards to form the outer, upper walls of the pyramid.

The box is closed by means of the closure flaps 3, 12 and 13. Closure flaps 12 and 13 are hingedly connected by fold lines with two flaps 6 and 10, on the opposite side to the hinge connection with the panels. The closure flaps 12, 13 are located on opposite sides of the pyramid when the box is constructed. Both of these closure flaps 12, 13 are provided with a slot. The slots extend approximately half way across the flap. When the box is closed these closure flaps 12, 13 are slotted together by means of the slits in an inter-engaging manner. The flaps 12, 13 thus form the flat top of the pyramid and hold the pyramid together. To hide the inter-engagement of the slots for aesthetic reasons a further closure flap 3 is provided. Flap 3 is hingedly connected by a fold line to one of the flaps 4 which, when the box is constructed, is located perpendicular to the flaps 12, 13. After the flaps 12 and 13 have been slotted together flap 3 is folded down to lie across them. Flap 3 is provided with a tab 14 hingedly connected thereto by a fold line. The tab 14 slots down between the side edges of closure flaps 12 and 13 and edge of flap 8, which is located on the opposite side of the pyramid to flap 4 when the box is constructed. Flap 8 is provided with a narrow tab 15 which folds downwards within the box and against which the tab 14 can rest.

When the blank is correctly folded the resulting box has a very distinctive octagonal pyramid-like top.

In the above description specific details of an embodiment of the invention have been provided. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that many of the details may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the main body of the box need not be octagonally shaped but may be of any other suitable polygonal shape.

Claims

1. A box comprising a main body having a substantially polygonal cross-sectional shape and an integral top having a substantially pyramidal shape, the top providing a recloseable opening and the box being formed from a onepiece blank of material.

2. A box as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is formed of a plurality of panels and first flaps hingedly connected to each of the panels form the inclined sides of the top.

3. A box as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the crosssectional shape is octagonal.

4. A box as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the box is held together by only one strip of adhesive.

5. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an aperture is cut into the blank.

6. A box as claimed in claim 5 wherein the aperture is replaced by a sheet of transparent material.

7. A box as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the whole blank is made of a transparent material.

8. A box as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the blank is made of card.

9. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the recloseable opening is closed by means of closure flaps hingedly connected to one or more of the first flaps.

10. A blank of material suitable for forming a box as claimed in claim 1.

11. A box substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A blank of material for forming a box substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.